Concerned parent and lector Frank Reilly seeks a way to hold his kid ’ twist use . He writes :
My two children each have an iPod touch sensation and they expend a mickle of time with them on Facebook and Instagram . My married woman and I seek to keep an eye on the time they drop , but we do n’t need to be police either . I ’ve looked at the iPods ’ restrictions but they do n’t do what we want , which is to confine the hour they can use these services . Any suggestion ?
At the risk of offering parenting advice , the first dance step is to judge how much time the kids are really drop and then find the harm it ’s doing . If it ’s interfere with more of import activities — prep , chores , usage , and time spent with the syndicate and friends — it ’s time for The Talk . And The Talk , in this case , emphasizes that while this engineering science is very cool , there ’s more to lifespan than staring at a covert and interacting with virtual friends . Then attempt to typeset up a schedule where social networking is placed in the context of a unpaid pursuit .
If The Talk does n’t take and the kids are spend more time than you ’re inclined to allow , there are sterner coming you’re able to take . One of the harshest is to mark up a system where the kids have to “ check out ” the devices during sure times of the day . When that meter expires , they have to become them over to you . Very few teenagers will put up with this approach , plus it puts you in the position of being the iPod cop .
A soft proficiency that achieves much the same results is to limit your internet . ( To head off pouting and/or poison looks , get your Kyd have intercourse you ’re going to do this . ) The kids can keep their iPod but they ’ll miss the means to get on the Internet . This is easily done if you have an AirPort - based wireless internet . Like so :
“ Borrow ” your kids ’ iPods and on each navigate to options > General > About . Write down the number and letters you find listed after the Wi - Fi Address entry . This is the iPod ’s MAC reference , which is the unique identifier for that equipment .
Now move to your Mac and launch AirPort Utility . choose the base station connected to your cyberspace source and select the Edit button . Click the web tabloid in the result windowpane and then snap on the boxful next to Enable Access Control . Click the Timed Access Control button that is now active .
In the sheet that appear click the Plus ( + ) release and embark the name of the machine in the Description airfield ( “ Junior ’s iPod , ” for example ) and the link up identifier in the MAC Address field .
In the Wireless Access Times area use the toss off - up menus to choose the times you ’ll allow the iPod to have admission to the Internet — weekdays between 3 and 5 PM and weekends from 10 AM to 12 PM , for case . Then click the Plus button once again to tally the other child ’s iPod and configure that one as you wish . ( you’re able to configure different times for each machine . ) When thing are configure as you wish , come home Save and allow AirPort Utility to refresh your base place . The limits you impose are now in place .
